Pregnant Kelly Rowland Is Beautiful As Ever

Williams’ fourth solo album, “Journey to Freedom,” encapsulates her penchant for diverse music. It’s grounded in gospel, with lyrics that assert and question her faith, inner strength and life choices. But producer Harmony Samuels, known for his work with Ariana Grande, Maroon 5 and Jennifer Hudson, surrounds Williams’ airy soprano in a swirl of R&B, hip-hop, pop, dance and African-influenced rhythms.

Recent single “Fire” has an elastic bounce. A bit of the Houston chopped and screwed sound is on standout track “Everything.” It’s an adventurous spin on a type of music often stifled by self-seriousness. The album, online and in storesTuesday, has already hit No. 1 on the iTunes Christian & Gospel chart.